The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-03-17
THE STANDARD.
1t begins to look as though time for

1t begins to look as though time for
fooling with the temperance question
had about passed, and the time for
serious, sober work had come. A few
political "boodlers" s"-to use their own
expression-have sought to make
sport Of the people Of Ohio with re-
gard to this great question, and the
people have stood back, good-natur-
edly, and watched these political gyra-
tions until the monkey-work has be-
come decidedly monotonous and dis
gushing. The whole aim of the po-
litical tricksters who have tried to
fool the people, and only made fools
of thenselves-has been to give some
thing to the people of the State that
would pass AS a practical temperance
measure, yet in reality result in the
defeat of the temperance cause. As
such measure the Dow Law was
drafted. 1t was evidently the inten-
tion of the politicians who put that
law through, that the cause of tenn
perance should find halting place
where that law began.
The people thought that some
thing good might be wrought out of
the thing if the Legislature could be
induced to improve the law so that
some practical results in the interest
of Temperance might follow. So
the Legislature was appealed to.
snow, gentlemen, you have called
upon us to witness and endorse the
Dow Law as wonderful temperance
measure, We shall endorse it so far as
it goes, and ask you to give US a little
more Of the same thing. The Corpor-
ations have right under this law to
put the whisky and beer sinks outside
the corporate limits, permit the peo-
pie of the townships to protect them
selves equally we'll" But just at this
point an adverse wind>blew aside the
thin veil Of pretense and dishonesty,
and the people beheld-just what they
expected to behold-a cloven hoof, a
pair Of horns, and Cincinnati beer
keg. The Legislature said, by its
action, mo, temperance people of
Ohio, we have reached the point at
last where we might just as we'll ad-
NIT, once for all, that bottle is our
God, beer-mallet our scepter. and
still-slops our brains You cannot
secure any further assistance from us
in the way of temperance legislation. "
Well, the people concluded to ask
for one more favor, not quite so pro-
nounced nor so far advanced, along
this line. will you, gentlemen Of
the Legislature, pass law requiring
the teaching, in the Public Schools,
of the evil effects of alcohol upon the
human system?" Certainly, the good
women of Ohio thought, the Legisla-
tors could not object to system of
teaching that could only result
in the saving of human lives and souls.
The Lower House passed the measure
But the Devil is not an idler. He is
ever watching his own interests, and
he loves at times to hang about the
political field. Before the bill could
get through he stepped in and said
'here, gentlemen, this does not suit
me. | will just have you strike out
everything that might be construed
as making it the duty Of teacher to
teach any such thing. and leave it in
a shape that gives the teacher the
privilege of teaching!" And the Leg
islators meekly said AYE, good mas
ter, we will do thy bidding" The
whole might and power of the Senate
was condensed and crowded into a
Cincinnati beer-keg, and the temper
ance people boldly and defantly told
by Moloch Halstead that all temper
ance sentiment must be kicked out of
the Republican party
Well, let us see how that will work
It is considered fair estimate that
250,000 Republicans in 1883 voted for
Prohibition. Last year, Robinson s
plurality was II, ,581, in total vote of
67O,2O9. Now take 25O,O0O away
from the Republican vote, and add it
to the Democratic vote, and you will
have a Democratic plurality Of 1885,
419. That is what Moloch Halstead
is driving at, and that is the result he
is endeavoring to reach. Is it any
wonder that Governor Foraker is not
anxious to run for reelection, when
the politicians are willing to become
tools Of such fellows? About one
more campaign Of Halstead and Cap
peller, and the Republican party will
be hopelessly crippled in Ohio.
Republican friends, we must look
the situation squarely in the face.
The Republican party has always
been party Of progress, a party of
reform. There is no limit to this pro-
gression. We must not merely strive to
reach certain pointin political expert
ence and stop there. There are always
noble achievements and wonderful
possibilities ahead. What is it that
people ask of us? Has there been an
appeal to the present Legislature that
has been to the least extent unreason-
able? Is there member of the Leg
islature, is there man anywhere, Of
any party, in the State of Ohio, who